Page 39 of Summer Love

I threw a thumb over my shoulder. "I'll set up my tools. Just come out when you're finished."

"That works," Elena smiled at me, and my heart contracted.

Would this be what it would be like to live with her? Would we always work well together as a team? Would she want me to wake her up with my face between her legs? Now I needed to go outside to hide my erection before Grams saw me and thought I was a creep.

Outside, I put on my protective gear, grabbed a sledgehammer, and got to work. I had to do something to not think about how Elena's ass looked in those jeans. I'd been so focused on work; I hadn't been with a woman in a while. I was reacting to Elena because she was the only woman I'd spent an appreciable amount of time with.

That's what I told myself as I worked, and the sweat poured down my back.

"Did you leave anything for me?" Elena asked when she came outside a few minutes later.

I lowered the sledgehammer, my heart thumping wildly. I hoped she didn't know what I'd been thinking about. That I couldn't seem to control this desire for her.

After tonight's dinner, I'd need to create some distance between us. Maybe I could tell her that she had everything she needed for a story. But the thought of sending her away made my heart ache.

I wasn't ready not to see her anymore. I was enjoying her company too much.

Elena grabbed her goggles and gloves, then reached for the sledgehammer. I gave it to her and stepped back.

She swung it like a pro, taking down the next support with ease. I reached for a bottle of water, hoping it would cool my overheated body.

But now I was in the precarious position of watching her ass move in those jeans as she swung the hammer, and I couldn't seem to look away.

I grabbed my phone and lowered my eyes to the screen, mindlessly scrolling so that I didn't creep on her.

"Is it going to rain again today?" Elena asked, making me fumble the phone and drop it. Her forehead wrinkled. "Are you okay?"

"Yep," I said reaching for the phone.

"The sky is gray. Doesn't look good for us working all day."

That was probably a good thing. I snatched the phone off the ground and pulled up the weather forecast. "There's a chance of showers this afternoon."

"Grams loves when it rains like that. Gives her an excuse to watch TV earlier in the day." Elena smiled and shook her head.

"Let's get to work so we can clear this out before the rain comes."

We worked side by side until the porch was gone, leaving just the wood decking I'd work on during the week. "My brothers will pick this up."

"Sounds good."

One rain drop landed on my forehead and then another. We had barely enough time to glance up at the sky before it was pouring.

Elena squealed, and we rushed to grab the tools. I stuffed them in the toolbox, and we ran to the truck, throwing it in the back. Then Elena grabbed my hand. "Come inside to dry off."

I absolutely should have resisted. I should have driven home and jumped in the shower, but I didn’t.

The thought of spending the day in her little cottage watching TV was inviting. I'd been alone for so long; I wasn't used to sharing my free time with anyone.

Inside, she pushed back her wet hair. "Do you want to jump in the shower? I could dry your clothes while you're in there."

"Sure," I found myself saying, even though I should have said I'd head home.

She led me upstairs to what looked like her bedroom. "Here's the bathroom. Just put your clothes by the door, and I'll grab them while you're in the shower."

I hesitated, until she reached for the hem of her shirt, then her gaze on me. She was waiting for me to leave so that she could get out of her wet clothes. I ducked into the bathroom, needing the door between us.

I'd lose my self-control if she raised her shirt by even an inch. I wanted to cross the room and do it for her. I wanted to cup her breasts through the lace of her bra I could see clearly through the wet cotton. She was every man's wet dream, and she didn't even know it.

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